I'm massively into Angels and Airwaves, as well as other stuff like Foo Fighters and that sort of thing. I've read a little bit about using delay pedals to produce some nice effects but don't actually know anything about how you use one etc.

Are they more like an echo than an actual delay? How do you set one up?

Are they more like an echo than an actual delay? How do you set one up?

Most can be set up either way. It basically works by taking your signal and copying it and playing it again after a certain period of time. Most have a delay time that you can change to create a thick slap-back delay(low delay time) to full on echos(long delay time.)

It works like most other effects, just put it in your signal chain and experiment. If you have an effects loop then it's usually better to put the delay there(less noise), but that's not to say you can't use it wherever.

The important controls available on most units and how they work (in practical terms) are:

Feedback: This controls how many times the signal is repeated. Low settings will repeat once, high settings will repeat several times.

Delay time: This controls how long(usually in milliseconds) it takes for the repeat to play. Low settings repeat very fast, note that settings less than about 30ms is practically instant and usually result in a thicker sound, whereas 30ms - 300ms gives a slap-back, meaning the repeat plays about the time the original ends if played staccato. Larger settings get into being like an echo or can roughly be used to create a harmony.

Delay Level: This controls how loud the delayed signal is. Low means it's practically unheard and high means it's just as loud as the original.

Most can be set up either way. It basically works by taking your signal and copying it and playing it again after a certain period of time. Most have a delay time that you can change to create a thick slap-back delay(low delay time) to full on echos(long delay time.)

It works like most other effects, just put it in your signal chain and experiment. If you have an effects loop then it's usually better to put the delay there(less noise), but that's not to say you can't use it wherever.

The important controls available on most units and how they work (in practical terms) are:

Feedback: This controls how many times the signal is repeated. Low settings will repeat once, high settings will repeat several times.

Delay time: This controls how long(usually in milliseconds) it takes for the repeat to play. Low settings repeat very fast, note that settings less than about 30ms is practically instant and usually result in a thicker sound, whereas 30ms - 300ms gives a slap-back, meaning the repeat plays about the time the original ends if played staccato. Larger settings get into being like an echo or can roughly be used to create a harmony.

Delay Level: This controls how loud the delayed signal is. Low means it's practically unheard and high means it's just as loud as the original.

Thanks, that's really helpful

When you say it can be set up either way, I take it that you always hear the actual note you played straightaway, regardless of the delay you're using?

If I wanted to use one with an overdrive pedal or my Blues Driver pedal, which order should the pedals be placed in?

Finally, any recommendations on pedals for me? I would ideally like to keep it under £50 GBP used, but if there's nothing decent in that range I can go to £150 GBP.

When you say it can be set up either way, I take it that you always hear the actual note you played straightaway, regardless of the delay you're using?

Yea, you still hear the original regardless.

Quote:

If I wanted to use one with an overdrive pedal or my Blues Driver pedal, which order should the pedals be placed in?

Most of the time you want to place the delay after any kind of distortion/overdrive, including the distortion channel of the amp, if you have one and an effects loop. But it's not a hard fast rule. Try both ways and pick the one you like best.

Quote:

Finally, any recommendations on pedals for me? I would ideally like to keep it under £50 GBP used, but if there's nothing decent in that range I can go to £150 GBP.

I have the Boss DD-20 Giga delay and love it, but it's pretty expensive. Only other one I have experience with is the DD-3 and it wasn't bad(I guess I'm just a boss fanboy.) Of course I did have a GNX 3000 that I used for a while so if their stand-alone delay is just as good then you could check that out. To me the important aspect of a delay(aside from sound) is flexibility, so look to see how many milliseconds you can delay.

I've seen a fair few DD3's and DD6's on eBay. What's the difference between them, do you know? I'd be inclined to give one of those a try and see how I get on, and buy the DD-20 if I find I want more than they can give in the future.